Just bought a new Altima Coupe (3.5)

[jh3p]

I have a manual transmission and I am a complete noob. I can drive it but im afraid im doing some things wrong. Can anyone tell me exactly within how many RPM's should I shift for which gear and the MPH at which I should shift? I know there is something in the owners manual but it only gives the MPH. Also, can you guys give me a list of Do's and dont's?

Thanks in advance

[CodeRed]

First off, welcome to NicoClub! But, why did you buy an MT without knowing how to drive one?

[jdshift]

Howdy and WELCOME!! Enjoy

[CodeRed]

Howdy and WELCOME!! Enjoy

You so did not help him you post whore.

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Welcome aboard! You made a fine purchase!

Your situation can simply be solved by some good practice. I usually shift between 3500-4000 so I can be fairly economical. Oh so nice to wind it up sometimes though I don't really look at the tach, you'll learn to hear and feel when you are supposed to shift.

Just practice and practice some more. Is there something specific that your doing that your worried about?

[Serkle K]

I dont know how many other people use this practice, but when I first started driving manual, I was taught to use the MPHs as a rule of thumb when shifting... 0-20, 1st gear; 20-30, 2nd; 30-40, 3rd, and so on till I got used to hearing and feeling the motor and revs/RPMs and all... I can safely say I have never burned a clutch, but I like many when they first drive maula have stalled out sometimes... thats about all I could suggest... Like I said I dont know how many other people used that philosophy, but it worked for me... and of course, above all, practice make perfect... I just hate the fact that my boots always get stuck one way or another when I drive a manual car... good luck!

and WELCOME!

[jdshift]

First off, welcome to NicoClub! But, why did you buy an MT without knowing how to drive one?

Like that was much help . Please stay off my back

[SHIFT_2.5S]

Congrats & welcome!

Everything should be fine, just make sure you break in the car properly. This means keeping the revs under 3k rpm for about 1,500 miles. Other than than, enjoy!

[AltimaOnDubz07]

Congrats on ur coupe

[generic808]

Welcome to NICO!

[Vet Boots]

jh3p:

WELCOME

If you are new to stick driving I can give you a helpful hint. When you are starting out on a hill (going up) when you take your foot off the brake it will begin to roll backwards then it takes care to get it going without a STALL. To prevent this set your emergency brake before you release the foot brake. Release the emergency brake when you feel the tug (friction point of the clutch) of engagement. No stall and your off like a bumble bee.......The A/C is fun to drive.......

[mcheddadi]

First off, welcome to NicoClub! But, why did you buy an MT without knowing how to drive one?

Duh! isn't it obvious!? It's because manual is the best! And people aren't born with driving skills, so If you wanna learn how to drive like a pro, manual is the way to go!

[generic808]

Duh! isn't it obvious!? It's because manual is the best! And people aren't born with driving skills, so If you wanna learn how to drive like a pro, manual is the way to go!

But the trick is, learning with someone else's car, not your own

[dangeris]

But the trick is, learning with someone else's car, not your own

LOL,..that's right generic! learn on someone's else's vehicle. I learned on a UPS truck when I worked for them years ago. As for when to shift, just listen to the motor. It'll tell you when to shift.

[bembol]

You should've talk to your dealership/sales to teach you. I know a few that did/practice on Test Drives.

Congrats with the Coupe!

[jh3p]

thanks for all the help guys. All the suggestions were very helpful, as of right now my friend works for nissan and drives a 350z, he taught me the basics (in his 350z, quite a friend) so now all there is is to practice and break in my car properly. Maybe when I start looking for performance parts ill look for different driving techniques.

and another quick question, what happens if the car isnt broken in properly? I was on a highway and was kind of forced to go over 55mph. and my car only has 40 miles on it. It was only for a little bit but i felt like I was hurting a baby.

[SHIFT_2.5S]

But the trick is, learning with someone else's car, not your own

I learned that lesson in Europe when I was learning on my friend's car on a close circuit track.

[notaverage]

and another quick question, what happens if the car isnt broken in properly? I was on a highway and was kind of forced to go over 55mph. and my car only has 40 miles on it. It was only for a little bit but i felt like I was hurting a baby.

going at that speed, should not be a problem. For breaking in the car, the RPM's is important. Read page 5-19 of your owners manual for proper breaking in instructions.

Read page 5-15 for tips on when to shift gears.

[generic808]

The 55mph rule is just a rough guide. If you go over it a few times here and there, it won't do any damage. Now if you suddenly think you're on the autobahn and start bustin' 100mph+, then you might have a problem.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I have a manual transmission and I am a complete noob. I can drive it but im afraid im doing some things wrong. Can anyone tell me exactly within how many RPM's should I shift for which gear and the MPH at which I should shift? I know there is something in the owners manual but it only gives the MPH. Also, can you guys give me a list of Do's and dont's?

Thanks in advance

Do - get comfortable with where the clutch engagement point is. This is the point where you disengage the transmission in order to shift gears - a function of how deep you push the pedal. This is key to driving a stick.

Do - practice in an empty lot - getting a feel for the engagement point - it may also help if you practice in a lot with a slight hill (after you are comfortable with the clutch engagement point) so that you can master starting on a hill. Once you get the basics the most difficult thing is moving from a stop on a hill.

The side benefit of driving a stick is that if you ever decide to learn how to ride a motorcycle you will be ahead of the game. I think 90% of the motorcycles made are Manual.

[GreyZone]

Didnt see it so Ill say it:

For the first 1200 miles:

1) DOnt go over 4000 rpms2) dont drive at a constant rpm for extended periods of time....mix it up a bit,down shift, upshift, let the roms ride the escalator (keeping in mind number one, above)3) DOnt do "full acceleration" in any gear at any speed

Im going from memory, but I think thats the jest of the important items for break in. I think we're probably okay after 600 miles, but Nissan wants to err on the side of caution and says 1200 miles.

THe side of caution is not a bad side to error on.

[jh3p]

Welcome aboard! You made a fine purchase!

Your situation can simply be solved by some good practice. I usually shift between 3500-4000 so I can be fairly economical. Oh so nice to wind it up sometimes though I don't really look at the tach, you'll learn to hear and feel when you are supposed to shift.

Just practice and practice some more. Is there something specific that your doing that your worried about?

Yeah just one thing that i noticed while i was driving around. when coming to a stop I tend to just put the car in neutral and brake as i ease into a stop, and then start over from 1st gear. I hardly ever downshift. And i was wondering, when should I downshift? is it better to shift down to a lower gear as I'm coming to a stop and just go from that same gear?

And im still having trouble of when to shift, any tips?

One more thing, any advice on downshifting properly?

Thanks a lot.

[jh3p]

anyone?

[LinkNuc]

Ok, my 1st and my driver's test came on a 2.3 Ford Ranger, no power steering...no tourque, no nothing (but a monster clutch)...my dad put a tape deck in...ok, my dad still even stalled that every once in a while...but here's my tricks...

Low torque, soft clutch...don;t be afraid to over rev and take your time...you wont have a hard jerk when "not following through"...

High tourque, hard clutch, left foot slow,EVEN little gas. Be careful.

Low tourqu, hard clutch..ehh, good luck

Big ol' Diesel...if its at idle, you can get away with just the clutch (easy) as you can get away with it on the 3.5VQ..if just pulling out (maybe)

Our car..pull out in 1st if stopped orOn a hill, you may want to "keep it moving"..hard on clutch..i.e left foot/ right foot (back and forth) a good driver will know that you have a manual and will give you a foot or two...don't count on it...

Flat or down hill, learn to pull out in 2nd..unless fully stopped, do not pull out in 2nd fully stopped (I do but then again i AM LAZy)....

our car is a nice mix of a semi-hard clutch and decent tourque...thank you or don't thank you drive by wire...lol

Hope that helped, probably not but for shifting..

about 3k shift for normal driving if not at 2.5K....ok no biggie

I shift from 4th to 6th @ 42-50mph but that is only because I am lazy and like the gas....

Now when I get on it, I shift at redline, but not having a tach in the middle makes me use feel

So after all that garbage I just typed......PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and of course...

[Dexion]

jh3p:

WELCOME

If you are new to stick driving I can give you a helpful hint. When you are starting out on a hill (going up) when you take your foot off the brake it will begin to roll backwards then it takes care to get it going without a STALL. To prevent this set your emergency brake before you release the foot brake. Release the emergency brake when you feel the tug (friction point of the clutch) of engagement. No stall and your off like a bumble bee.......The A/C is fun to drive.......

This is a good idea and basically a rule of thumb but I used to use this method. When on a hill and its your turn to go and your not too comfy with the stick yet, put it in 1st gear and pull the clutch out slowly while still applying the footbrake. You will feel the engine start to slow down and shake a little, thats the clutch slipping the flywheel. Then push down on the clutch slightly and as soon as your light turns green tap some gas and let out the clutch easy. This way you won't roll back. This is especially usefull if some retard stops right on your *** on a hill.

As for shifting I usually shift @ 2500 RPM's and try to cruise in either 5th or 6th (1500~2750RPM's) depending on speed. 45+mph.

[Shift_Kouki]

You live in Columbia? LOL I went to AHS a while back.

Definetly go by RPM and not speed. There is NO WAY you should exceed your rev's by doing normal highway speeds in 6th.

But there are other parts of the engine that need break in as well. The valves need to be seated propperly, the cams need break in, and your rings need to seal. This leads to two things. 1 - there are a TON of different ideas on how to best break in a motor, and 2 - what the factory says to do might not always be the best, but it probably wont be dead wrong.

[nismodan69]

why i

Didnt see it so Ill say it:

For the first 1200 miles:

1) DOnt go over 4000 rpms2) dont drive at a constant rpm for extended periods of time....mix it up a bit,down shift, upshift, let the roms ride the escalator (keeping in mind number one, above)3) DOnt do "full acceleration" in any gear at any speed

Im going from memory, but I think thats the jest of the important items for break in. I think we're probably okay after 600 miles, but Nissan wants to err on the side of caution and says 1200 miles.

THe side of caution is not a bad side to error on.

why is it that you cant keep a new car at constant rpm for too long?

[generic808]

That's what it says in the owner's manual.